World Trade Center Progress
Major progress has been made in recent months to build the signature Santiago Calatrava-designed World Trade Center Transportation Hub, including the construction of sweeping arches that will form the Hub’s mezzanine level. Erection of the north, south, and center span arches has been completed. Over 2,800 tons of permanent steel have been erected in the station. The construction of the East Box Girder continues and welding is commencing. This massive steel girder will support the Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit’s Number One Subway Box in the underpass area and allow pedestrian access between the PATH Hall and Transit Hall. The steel girder is essentially an underground bridge to permanently hold the Number One Subway Box in place while allowing commuters to travel below it. Other significant construction progress includes the delivery of and commencement of welding on the northwest supercolumn, necessary to provide the distinctive openness of the Hub.
Permanent Spanish supercolumn installed at the Hub (left) and interior rendering (right)
The WTC Transportation Hub will restore and enhance the PATH station that existed prior to September 11, 2001. The Hub will feature climate-controlled platforms and a mezzanine with superior lighting and finishes. Commuters and visitors will be able to choose from a range of retail services, and make seamless transit connections using the Hub’s fully integrated concourse, which will provide pedestrian access between the World Financial Center (WFC) Winter Garden, PATH, and the MTA New York City Transit’s Fulton Street Transit Center. Designed by internationally acclaimed architect, Santiago Calatrava, the Hub is designed to accommodate 250,000 pedestrians per day. The temporary PATH station accommodates approximately 50,000 pedestrians per day.
With steel rafters extending 200 feet above street-level and a 115 foot-high skylight, the Oculus sits like a bird poised for flight. The Hub is being funded in part by the Federal Transit Administration, and scheduled to open by the end of 2014. It will be the most integrated network of underground pedestrian connections in all of New York City. The construction of the East-West Connector, a concourse under Route 9A/West Street, is being coordinated with the construction of a new WFC facade.
With steel rafters extending 200 feet above street-level and a 115 foot-high skylight, the Oculus sits like a bird poised for flight. The Hub is being funded in part by the Federal Transit Administration, and scheduled to open by the end of 2014. It will be the most integrated network of underground pedestrian connections in all of New York City. The construction of the East-West Connector, a concourse under Route 9A/West Street, is being coordinated with the construction of a new WFC facade.
Construction of the WTC Transportation Hub mezzanine hall
Construction Progress Around the WTC Site
ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER
One WTC is quickly rising in the northwest corner of the site. Once completed, it will be the tallest skyscraper in New York City at 105 floors to the roofline, or 1,776 feet, including the mast. The steel rose to 667 feet in January, an equivalent of 56 floors above grade, and more than halfway to the top of the tower. Installation of aluminum and glass panels is currently in progress at the 27th floor. The exterior cladding will consist of over one million square feet of prismatic glass when complete.
NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM (NS11MM)
The NS11MM will be a place memorializing the 9/11 victims and educating the public. In less than a year, on the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001, the Memorial Plaza will become accessible to pedestrians. Visitors to the Museum will be able to see into a large glazed atrium, where two steel tridents recovered from the Site will be on display. The Museum Pavilion’s steel is complete with concrete operations in the building continuing this month.
FOUR WORLD TRADE CENTER
Located at the southeast corner of the site, 4 WTC will rise to 975 feet. This month, steady progress will continue on the reinforcement and form work for concrete floor slabs and columns, currently on the 5th floor. The steel erection and installation of the core wall will also continue through the 11th and 13th floors, to what will eventually be a 64-story tower.
CENTRAL CHILLER PLANT
The Central Chiller Plant is a 12,500-ton capacity facility beneath the Memorial Plaza. Designed to provide air conditioning to facilities at the WTC site, it will use the River Water Pipe System to draw water in from the Hudson River through the River Water Pump House, which is currently being rehabilitated. Recent construction progress on this project includes field testing of the third 2,500 ton chiller for leaks and the delivery and rigging of the 40 volt switchboard.
Source- www.wtcprogress.com
